Living Responsibly
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LIVING RESPONSIBLY www.zeppelin.com 1 ForeWorD Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, As a foundation-owned enterprise, every day we conscientiously assume responsibilities toward our customers, our employees, and the public. This CONTENTS is second nature to us at Zeppelin. It is a tradition that we can trace back many decades to a unique Foreword ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 pioneer and visionary: Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin, who founded and gave his name to our company. Company Profile ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 His values still define our corporate culture today. From Vision to Innovation ����������������������������������������������������������������� 4 With this brochure, we invite you to learn about our A Signal for the Future ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 enterprise and its many facets. About our commit- Zeppelin Creates Solutions – Worldwide ����������������������������������������� 6 ment to sustainability, which we put into practice in connection with and for the benefit of our customers, A Tradition of Responsibility ���������������������������������������������������������������� 8 our employees, and the public. And about the innova- Lasting Values ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 tive spirit that is increasingly driving Zeppelin’s evolution into an integrated services group. Focus on Customers ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 This brochure is also an excellent example of how A Strong Partner Offering Security ������������������������������������������������ 12 we actively practice sustainability and live up to our Farsighted Investments ������������������������������������������������������������������ 13 entrepreneurial responsibilities. Under the title of Adding Value with Problem-Solving Competence ������������������������� 14 “Living Responsibly”, we acquaint you with many practical examples of our everyday work. Protecting the Environment and Conserving Resources ���������������� 16 Innovation and Progress ����������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Sustainable thinking and actions: we are going to continue on this path with commitment, Responsibility for Our Employees ���������������������������������������������������� 20 persistence, and a strong sense of responsibility. And the successes we achieve on the way will Careers Made Easy ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 22 motivate and spur us on. Encouraging Strengths – Strengthening Skills ������������������������������� 23 Strong as a Team ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 Everything in Balance ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Playing It Safe �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 Social Involvement ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 Trust and Compliance ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Education for the Future ����������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Sponsoring Sports and Culture ������������������������������������������������������ 32 Peter Gerstmann With Commitment and Feeling ������������������������������������������������������ 35 Chairman of the Management Board of ZEPPELIN GmbH Perspectives ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 Sights Set on Success �������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 About this Publication ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 2 3 COMPANY PROFILE FROM VISION TO INNOVATION The Success Story of the Zeppelin Group The Zeppelin Group looks back on a long tradition. It In order to respond more sensitively to the needs of all started with Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin (1838- different markets and customer groups, in 2010 the 1917) and his vision of a steerable airship. This led to Group restructured its operations in five Strategic the maiden flight of the LZ 1, his first design, on July 2, Business Units. 1900 and the founding of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH in 1908, thus kicking off the history of the Since 1993, airships have once again been produced Zeppelin Group. in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co. KG develops and builds Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH was a market success. helium-filled Zeppelin NT (“Neue Technologie”) It built airships in Friedrichshafen for decades and airships. It is owned by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH operated the first commercial airship service between and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, in which the Zeppelin Europe and the United States, marking the start of Foundation in turn owns a majority stake. civil aviation. But after the 1937 accident at Lakehurst, New Jersey, that destroyed the Hindenburg, the com- pany’s airship activities came to an abrupt halt. The Zeppelin production facilities were destroyed dur- ing World War II, but in 1950 the company rose from the ashes with the establishment of Metallwerk Fried- richshafen GmbH (it was later renamed Zeppelin- Metallwerke GmbH and, in 1995, ZEPPELIN GmbH). That marked a radical change in the Zeppelin Group’s business activities. Initially successful as a manufac- turer of containers and components, in 1954 the com- A SIGNAL FOR THE FUTURE pany acquired exclusive rights to sell and service The Zeppelin Donation of the German People Caterpillar construction machines in West Germany. That launched a new field of business and set a mile- stone in the Group’s history. At the dawn of the 20th century, airships were private fortune was left, seemingly putting the Over the following decades, Zeppelin-Metallwerke regarded as a symbol of innovation and technical construction of a new airship beyond his reach. But GmbH (today’s ZEPPELIN GmbH) steadily expanded its progress. Those veritable giants of the air evoked then the “miracle of Echterdingen” happened: news activities throughout much of Western and Eastern enormous fascination with technology. Consequent- of the disaster unleashed a wave of sympathy and Europe. In 1994 it assumed the role of a holding ly, there was huge public interest when Ferdinand generosity throughout the German Empire. In a spec- company, while existing and newly founded subsi- Graf von Zeppelin set off on a 24-hour test flight in tacular collection campaign, more than six million diaries in Germany and other countries took respon- his LZ 4 airship on August 4, 1908. marks came pouring in. The donations enabled Count sibility for actual operations. Other milestones were Zeppelin to continue pursuing his innovative ideas. the expansion of the rental business to include Unfortunately, the voyage came to an unhappy end. He also utilized his new funds to found Luftschiffbau construction and construction site equipment in 2003 After successfully completing the test, the airship Zeppelin GmbH and the Zeppelin Foundation. and, in 2006, the pooling of all activities related to made a stop in Echterdingen near Stuttgart. But be- Caterpillar and MaK engines in a separate company fore it could continue on its way, a storm tore it loose That remarkable episode became known as the called Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG. from its anchorage, causing it to crash into a tree “Zeppelin Donation of the German People”. It was and burst into flames. Count Zeppelin was forced to a key event for the present-day Zeppelin Group, witness his life’s work in ruins. Almost none of his shaping both its history and its corporate culture. 4 5 COMPANY PROFILE Zeppelin Creates Solutions – WorlDWIDE Organization of the Zeppelin Group More than 7,000 employees at 190 locations around the The Construction Equipment EU business unit sells The Rental business unit brents out and leases con- world contribute to the Zeppelin Group’s success. Suc- and services Caterpillar construction machines and struction machines and equipment, containers and cess that can also be expressed in figures. For example, Hyster lift trucks. With an overall portfolio of about sanitary systems, equipment and systems for securing sales of 2.55 billion euros in the 2012 financial year. 650 products, backed by application consultancy, construction sites and controlling traffic, aerial work financing, marketing of preowned construction platforms, stackers, agricultural machines, vehicles, ZEPPELIN GmbH is the Group’s holding company. Its machines, and innovative control and monitoring and trailers. It also supports its customers with a legal seat is in Friedrichshafen and its headquarters in systems, this Strategic Business Unit offers custom- range of supplementary services that include analysis Garching near Munich. The Zeppelin Group is organized ers construction site solutions from a single source. and planning of project requirements, application into five Strategic Business Units: Construction Equip- consultancy, logistics, installation and setup, insurance, ment EU and CIS, which are responsible for sales and The Construction Equipment CIS business unit is devo- and maintenance. servicing of construction and agricultural equipment in ted to selling and servicing Caterpillar construction Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States machines in Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,